The Osceola times., 1887-07-16

forecastle entrance and bolted. Nv
hrst action was to open this, and the
rush Of air told me that the forecastle
had not been ventilated for several
days Selling a capstan bar which
leaned against the anchor windlass. |
pounded smartly on the deck and called
out to know if anybody was below. but
no answer came. The man with me,
who was an old salt, grew so nervous
that he would have returned to the boa,
but for my positive commands to the
contrary. As soon as satisfied that
the forecastle was clear of men felt
that the schooner was deserted and we
at once lowered away the sails. This
checked her drift, and the brig turned
ON her heel. and came down close to u:
again.
The next point for inspection was the
cabin. l went down alone, and in
two or three minutes was satisfied
that it had no occupants, living
or dead. There was no disorder
no sign OF haste or plunder. | was
smiling the air as | moved about and
could detect no odor to prove that an
epidemic had ragged. When / went on
deck the brig was within speaking dis.
tance, drifting at the same pace as the
schooner, and informed Captain Ian.
| sing of the state of affairs and sent the
boat to bring him over. When he
came we descended into the forecastle
and lighted the lamp. There was
plenty of oil in it, proving that some
hand had turned out the light in the
usual way. We then went to the
cabin. Every thing appeared as if the
officers had simply gone on deck, ex-
| cept that there was not a single art l.
Gle of wearing apparel. This was like
wise true of the forecastle We looked
for the schooner's log, but it was gone,
as was also her papers and charts. We
rummaged the cabin for half an hour,
but found nothing whatever to enlght.
en- us. Her name ought to have been
on the stern, but when the boat was
ordered to pull around her no name of
We 'sel or port was found. 1t had not
been scraped or painted out recently,
butas far as one could judge she had
not carried a name for years. Then
we made a search along the decks.
She had no mall boats at all. Not
even an initial letter was painted or
stamped on any thing We sounded
the well, and found her dry as a bone.
We pulled off the matches and found
her in sand ballast. She had plenty of
fresh water and provisions, and in the
cabin were six muskets and plenty of
ammunition.
Our inspection and investigation
lasted three hours. at the end of which
time we were no wiser than when we
began. Here was stanch, tight
schooner picked up in mid-ocean with
all sail set. Those who had abandoned
her had taken the utmost precaution
that she should not be identified but
for what reason we could not even con-
lecture. Here was a lump of salvage
for us worth looking after, and Cap
tain Lansing determined TO take her
to the islands. We hadn't an extra
man on the brig. Indeed, we were one
short of our complement. We had
therefore decided to take tow line to
the brig and hang by her at least while
the weather was safe, and had begun
our preparations. when an "ox-eye" or
squall was seen gathering down in tho
south, and we had to hurry aboard the
brig to make all snug The squall hit
us tiercely, and lasted nearly half an
hour, and when we came out Of it the
schooner had turned turtle within half
a mile of US, and the prize had slipped
from our grasp.
Did you ever learn any thing further
about her2 Not word, singular as it
may seem. The incident was published
in scores of papers, and called to the
attention of thousands of sailors. but
none of them was ever able to furnish
any true information. What do
think2 Well, it was one of the mys-
teres, but no stranger than some
others | have had hand inn. Y.
Sun.